Charles Court

From 'A Branch of the Holroyd Family' by Thomas Holroyd, 1879:

Extract -- "Madras Government Gazette," the 18th October, 1821

On Sunday, the ninth of September, about half past four o'clock, at his home at Ballygunge, departed this life Captain Charles Court, of the Honourable Companiy's Bombay Marine Establishment, and Marine Surveyor-General of India; and on the following day his remains were removed under a discharge of Minute Guns from the Honourable Companiy's Surveying Ship "Meriton," and were received and escorted to the place of Internment by a large Detachment of His Majesty's 87th Regiment, Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Shaw, CB, and interred with the Military Honours due to his rank.

The early services of the beloved and lamented Officer in question, are best described by the following testimony borne to his merits by the able and justly respected late Superintendent of the Bombay Marine, W. T. Money, Esq (now one of the Honourable Court of Directors,) in his address to that Government under date of the 15th July, 1809.

"Upon this occasion, Honourable Sir, I have to discharge very pleasing part of my duty in bringing to your notice the services and merits of a very respectable Officer.

Lieutenant Court after acquiring a knowledge of his profession in the East India Service was appointed to the Honourable Company's Marine in the year 1790, and served as seco to nd Lieutenant of the "Panther" on a cursory Survey of the Red Sea, under Lieutenant White, and in the same station on board the Bombay Frigate "Commodore Picket," he was actively engaged in the reduction of Colombo and its dependencies.

As first Lieutenant of the same ship he gallantly served at the reduction of Manado on Celebes, and was appointed to the Command of Fort Amsterdam, which he held for nine months under the most critical circumstances, in a hostile country. In reward of his distinguished merits in this trying situation, he was appointed President at Manado and Commandant of all the British Troops on Celebes.

During the period of his Command in this important post which he held for seven years he completely succeeded in consiliatingthe vast population of that valuable Island, and attaching all ranks to the British Government; having by the personal influence which his own conduct had acquired for him, accomplished a treaty with all the chiefs by which very considerable advantages were secured to the Honourable Company, and many barbarous customs, which tended to render the people, naturally mild and offensive, cruel and vindictive, were solemnly abandoned.

Had peace not restored to the Dutch their possessions to the Eastward, Manado would have been rendered by Mr Court's prosperous administration a valuable acquisition to the East India Company.

Upon the restoration of the Malaccas Lieutenant Court returned to the active duties of his profession, and in Command of the "Princess Augusta" with a small squadron he blockaded Severndroog where he captured 36 vessels, seven of the largest of which he cut from under the guns of the fort, and obtained restitution of a Dow laden with Company's coffee to a considerable amount.

From this Station he was recalled and selected to command the Honourable Companies Ship "Ternate" in pursuit of "La Fortune," "Monsieur La Meme," who had recently captured the "Fly" but upon his arrival at Bombay he found that the enemy was a prize to his Majesty's Ship "Concorde."

Lieutenant Court was then, at particular request, appointed to Command of the "Panther," and proceeded with Lord Valentia to the Red Sea where he prosecuted a tedious, an arduous, and a difficult survey of the Abyssinian Coast with great credit to himself and perfect satisfaction to his Lordship.

Soon after his return to Bombay in 1807, he was selected to be my Assistant, and from his attention, assiduity, and ability, I have derived such valuable aid in the discharge of my public duties, that I part from Mr Court's services with the utmost regret, and shall ever hold them in thankful remembrance."

Captain Court, while in England, married one of the daughters of the present Sir George Holroyd, a young lady whose personal attractions were only surpassed by her unassuming virtues and superior mental attainment is.

In the year 1810, Captain Court was appointed by the Honourable Court of Directors Marine Surveyor-General of India, for which important office his superior abilities rendered him particularly qualified, and he arrived at Calcutta in the following year.

In the year 1813, he had the misfortune to lose his inestimable Partner, and from that period to the day of the termination of his own earthly career he shrunk from the world's observation, and never regained the wonted serenity of his mind nor the vigour of his faculties.

The above inadequate sketch of the virtues and worth of the deceased are humbly recorded as an unfeigned tribute of affectionate regard for his memory, by those who revered him while living and who will never cease to deplore his loss. Calcutta Journal.

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